Christmas 1979

Cyprus

With one exception in 1975, Cyprus has issued Christmas stamps every year since 1969, sometimes together with Miniature Sheets (1969 and 1972). This year's issue consists of three stamps depicting icons

Source: Department of Postal Services, Republic of Cyprus.

Icon of Jesus

:

It belongs to the Church of Holy Mother of Arakas at Lagoudhera, dated in 1192 A.D. Jesus is pictured in the image of the Almighty giving a blessing with his right hand and holding the Bible in his left hand.

The Nativity

:

This icon comes from the church of the village St. Nicholas in Famagusta and includes some other scenes. The icon is from the 16th century, a period where the icon painting has been developed in Cyprus.

Icon of Holy Mother

:

This is fixed in the iconostasis of the church of Holy Mother of Arakas at Lagoudhera, dated in 1192 A.D. The Holy Mother is depicted as Odigitria (giving guide), holding Jesus in her left hand, and raising the right hand in prayer (deisis).